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Has it been a while since you took off a ring? Did you try on a ring that seemed big enough going on but won't readily come off? Don't panic, and don't rush to cut it off either. There are some simple things you can do to remove it safely.

Steps

Method1

General

1

Place your index finger gently on the stuck ring, and thumb under. Start twisting the ring gently back and forth, while slowly pulling the ring out.

2

Make sure that you don't pull and tug too much. It could cause additional swelling and make it even harder to remove the ring.

Method2

Lubricant Method

1

Use something slippery. Plenty of skin-safe household items can be used as lubricants to get the ring off in one piece and with minimal damage to skin. Ammonia-based cleaners such as Windex often work best. If the skin is broken or cut, choose your lubricant wisely. Otherwise, try any of these, using a generous amount at least as far as the knuckle.

Vaseline

Windex or other window cleaners
(professional jewelers often use this and make sure its safe on skin, read the bottle first)

Hand lotion (works particularly well)

Butter - if possible

Hair conditioner/shampoo

Petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment
(the best choice if the skin is broken)

Cooking spray, soft butter, or cooking oil

Shortening (lard)

Peanut butter -smooth, not chunky!! (may be a little sticky but works to get the ring off)

Soap and water

Baby Oil

Ring Release

2

Move the ring around, getting some of the lubricant underneath. Turn the ring around the finger a time or two, and spray or rub more lubricant on as well. Gently pull the ring off the finger, working it back and forth and turning it as you go, as necessary.

Method3

Elevation Method

1

Elevate the arm. If you still can't remove the ring, try elevating the arm above shoulder level for a few minutes.

Method4

Cold Water Method

1

Dip the hand in cool water. Have you noticed that your rings fit more loosely on cool days than hot ones? Place the hand in cool, but not ice cold, water and leave it there for a few minutes. It need not be painful to leave your hand in the water.

Method5

Dental Floss Method

1

Slip one end of the dental floss under the ring. If necessary use a needle to get the dental floss under the ring.

2

Wrap the dental floss around your finger, up to your knuckle. Wind snuggly, but not so tightly that you cause pain or turn the finger blue. Unwind it if it's too tight.

3

Unwind the dental floss, beginning at the bottom of the finger. As you unwind the dental floss from the bottom, your ring will move up your finger until you can get it off.

If the ring only goes partially off: Repeat the two previous steps from the rings current position.

Method6

After You Get the Ring Off

1

Clean the area where the ring was and tend to any other injuries. Don't put the ring back on until it has been re sized or the swelling has gone down.

Community Q&A

A ring should always feel comfortable on your finger and the best fit is where the ring slides on with ease but resists slipping back off. If your skin bulges around the ring, then the ring is too small. If it slides back and forth with ease, never settling in one place, the ring is too large. To obtain the right fit, there should be a tiny gap between your finger and the ring, with some minor resistance when pushing over the knuckle. As with shoes, the best time to have a ring fitted is at the end of the day, to account for natural swelling during the day.

A ring cutter is used to remove rings from fingers when the ring won’t come off because of swelling, crushing or other injury. It acts somewhat like a can opener, to quickly cut a part of the ring without harming the skin. Ring cutters vary depending on the type of metal they have to cut; some are made for softer metals such as gold and platinum, while others are made to handle tougher metals. If you need to have a ring removed with a ring cutter, it’s best to see your jeweler (if no other injury is present) or the local hospital, as they’ll have the right tool.

Regular, ongoing swelling should always be checked by a doctor, to ensure there isn’t any underlying medical cause––many medical issues can cause swelling. For occasional swelling, or where your doctor has assessed you and suggested alleviating practices, try an ice pack on the affected area, leaving it in place for 10 to 15 minutes. Further help can for reducing finger swelling be found at: How to Reduce Swollen Fingers.

Yes, a jeweler can definitely cut off a ring. A jeweler will have the appropriate tools for cutting the ring and will be able to remove the ring without harming your finger. As well, a jeweler can ensure that minimal damage is done to the ring, giving you the option of having the ring repaired afterward. If you can’t find a jeweler, then the local ER, your doctor or even the fire station may be able to assist. Important: If you have damaged skin, injury-induced swelling or cut skin at the site of the stuck ring, it would be best to see your doctor first, to discuss options for removal that avoid causing infection or further skin damage.

When you raise your arm, all that excess fluid or water retention will travel back down the body and away from your finger joints. This will make your fingers more slender and thus make it easier to pull the ring off.

Tips

If your ring is stuck because skin bunches at the knuckle, hold the ring with your thumb and middle finger and use your index finger to pull the skin taught so the bunched skin is now under the ring. Let the ring use the bunched skin to slide over the knuckle.

If your ring had to be cut off, any worthwhile jeweler should know to wait at least two weeks before sizing your finger, so that your finger has time to heal.

If you have tried every possible way to take the ring off and you still can't, take a metal filer of some sort and start to file a side of a ring. It may take some time to do that, but by the time there is a gap in the ring you could stretch out each side and take it off.

As the ring reaches your knuckle, press it against and move it as far up the joint on the inside as possible. This makes it much easier to then pull the ring over the knuckle on the top of your finger.

If you must cut the ring off yourself, here's how. Try to get a Popsicle stick or some toothpicks between the ring and the skin to protect the finger. Slowly and carefully use a needle file to cut a groove through the ring. Needle files are available at any hardware store.

Always have the ring finger bent slightly as this reduces "bunching" of skin on the knuckle and therefore makes the knuckles slightly smaller.

Get your ring size measured if you haven't lately. It may change as you gain or lose weight or simply as you age. Any jeweller should have a set of sizing rings.

These methods work well when you need to remove your ring from fingers that are puffy in the morning.

Don't worry about getting your ring cut off, if you need to. It takes seconds, does not hurt at all, and rings are very easy to repair. Don't damage your hand with a badly fitting ring—just go to the hospital, fire station or good jeweller. They will all remove it for you.

Wash your ring with warm water and soap. The slipperiness of the soap may loosen the ring and the heat of the water may cause it to expand a bit to loosen. Try to slowly twist it off to avoid the pain of tugging.

Use lubricants such as butter, cooking spray, or baby oil and rub all over the finger. This should help make the ring to come off easier.

Slowly twist the ring side to side, while gently pulling.

Warnings

Some types of window cleaner may contain ammonia and can hurt certain types of metals and gems. Be sure to check!

Get immediate help if some other injury to the finger is causing it to swell. Don't pull at a ring if you think the finger might be broken.

Your local jewelry store should also have a tool that allows them to cut the ring off. Once they remove it they can repair and re-size the ring for you, but only after letting your finger heal, usually 2 weeks. It's best if you go to a store that has a repair shop on the premises since they'll definitely know what they're doing.

If the finger is turning blue and you cannot remove the ring then visit the ER (A&E in the UK) or the nearest fire station immediately.

Most fire stations and emergency rooms have a tool that can cut the ring off in a matter of seconds, and you will still be able to take the ring to a jeweler for repair.

To remove a stuck ring, try dipping your hand in cold water to lubricate your skin and reduce any swelling. After a few minutes, try twisting the ring off your finger while your hand is still wet. If that doesn’t work, apply a generous amount of lubricant such as hand lotion, petroleum jelly, or cooking oil on the skin around the ring. Then, move the ring around to get the lubricant underneath, and gently twist it back and forth as you pull it off your finger. For more tips, like how to remove a stuck ring using dental floss, scroll down.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,800,635 times.

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60% of people told us that this article helped them.

Co-authors: 108

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Views: 1,800,635

MW

Malinda White

Aug 18, 2017

"This article was very helpful. Normally I wear many rings on my hand. Some have a tendency of getting stuck, and I end up panicking about whether or not they will come off. This ends up with me using a nail scissor to cut them off (a waste of money and painful). Now, however, I can painlessly and safely remove them. Thanks."..." more

HY

Heather Yandle

May 14, 2017

"Clear instructions, not to panic and that this should work. Arthritis has swollen my finger joints, I rubbed loads of hand cream in as advised and inched it very persistently up and over the swollen joint. It came easily once the cream had worked in a bit."..." more

MM

Melissa Mason

Jan 7

"The tip that says the fire dept has a ring cutting tool. I never would have thought of that and it would be much quicker and cheaper than the hospital. There is generally a fire dept near most relatively populous locations."..." more

BC

Barb Coger

Aug 4, 2017

"I was stung by a wasp on my left hand and I needed to remove my wedding band as my hand and fingers were swelling. The step-by-step guide to using dental floss really worked and I have big knuckles!"..." more

Rated this article:

BL

Brynn Lockster

Apr 17

"I went into my room, put on my cross ring, and realized I cant get it off. I frantically searched on the Internet for answers and came across wikiHow. Thanks for saving me from embarrassment!"..." more

Rated this article:

PM

Polly Minkle

Aug 6, 2016

"Add Vaseline to your finger, because it will slip off easier. Also try to go farther up than your knuckle, because I ran out of string quickly. Besides that, it was awesome!"..." more

AP

Amelia Pond

Jul 24, 2016

"The dental floss tip was incredible - it was the only thing that worked for me, and my ring was off in seconds. Thank you!"..." more

SC

Shirley C.

Feb 16, 2017

"I put hand lotion first, then used the dental floss method. Unbelievably, it really worked! Thank you very much."

LI

Lungile Innocentia

Oct 7, 2017

"I always wear my wedding ring and it get stuck on my finger. With this information I'm sorted, thank you."

A

Anonymous

Aug 27, 2016

"The cold method with dental floss helped us in removing the struck ring."